Trishalini ~ The Jewel of Mahabaleshgarh

40 ~ The Talk

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Abhinandan POV

As Maasa suggested, I excused myself and made my way towards my father's chamber. Since he was resting, I was asked to look into the matters at the court.

But, I could not sit on the throne until the King stayed alive.

"Pranam, Baapusa," I wished him as soon as I stepped into his chamber. He looked up from a scroll and smiled wide.

"A letter from your Bua-sa," he said, and a smile appeared on my face, too.

"Everything is alright?" I asked, sitting beside him and holding his hand. He nodded.

"There is good news," he said and forwarded the letter towards me.

"Your brother is getting married," he said, and my eyes lit up immediately.

"So soon?" That was my first reaction. I mean, they just arrived at Nandani's wedding, and it would be only a week or two since they would have reached the Sultanate," I explained and looked at the scroll.

"Oh! It says in three months," I smiled.

"Indeed, good news," I said, and Baapusa straightened up a little and placed his hand on my shoulder. I was sitting on the bed's edge. I could feel his fingers shaking out of weakness.

"By the way, you wanted to talk about something with me," he said, and I looked away for a moment before a smile spread across my face.

"Whatever I wish to talk about is your daughter-in-law's idea. And, when you listen to it, you will be amazed," I said, almost guaranteeing it, and he lifted his left brow.

"What is it?" he asked, and I shifted a little and looked at him.

"She said that our soldiers and staff are demotivated by continuous work. She and I believe that, just like us, if soldiers stay either close to their families or are given leave often, they will be more happy to serve," I suggested, and he stared blankly at me without any expression.

"This will get costly, and it will make soldiers soft, too. Like families are comfort and wars are nothing but comfort," he said in his low and weak voice, and I shook my head.

"Families remind us of our purpose and motive, of why we need to be alive and survive amid any condition. And without families, the soldiers are nothing but puppets. Imagine not knowing how old your children are. I mean, you could not bear your son away from you for months, but some men never know how their sons look," I tried to say, and he lowered his gaze.

"Abhinandan, the thought you and Trishalini have is indeed a great one, but our taxes are low, people are comfortable, and we are short on funds, too. Imagine recruiting new people just because the previous one has to enjoy the holidays. We are on the tip of the ice, making money and spending it. We are currently not accumulating anything, so if you wish to implement this, think of something for the revenue first," he said, and I lowered my gaze.

"Oh," I said, and he placed his hand on my shoulder and patted a little.

"I believe in you. Just like you have a good vision, which indeed thinks of families, you will find good additional sources for the funds, too," he said, and I looked up at him.

"You think it is a good vision?" I asked, unable to believe that he was not speaking against it.

"Of course. You are to be the King after me. Your vision will become the history one day. And people will remember it," he said, and I smiled weakly.